All five Alamo Drafthouse locations close in North Texas, Chapter 7 bankruptcy filed

This ****ing sucks. My favorite place to go. It does say all other locations nationwide are staying open

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"We are very disappointed to learn today that our franchisees, which operates five locations in Dallas-Fort Worth, TX, and one in Woodbury, MN, has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and is closing their business effective immediately," an Alamo Drafthouse spokesperson said.

Alamo Drafthouse's franchise partner, Two Is One, One is None, and its affiliates attributed the closure of its locations after 13 years to guest counts that haven't rebounded from the COVID-19 pandemic and other economic impacts.

"Industry-wide guest counts have not rebounded even to pre-COVID levels and coupled with the 100-plus days of the Writers' and Actors' strikes, industry-wide economic performance was severely down in the fourth quarter of 2023 and the first quarter of 2024," they said in a press release. "In fact, the first quarter of 2024 has been the worst performing quarter in movie-going history."

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Dang wow

There's been a "Alamo Drafthouse Coming Soon" sign near me for maybe 5 years. Guess I should finally give up hope.

An L of an Ag said:

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Bummer. One of the ones in SA closed not too long ago. Maybe more than one.

Once other theaters starting having full bars attached, that was the end of Alamo's unique advantage.

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It's been ages since I"ve been to one so I looked up ticket pricing and it seems cheaper than what I'm used to. Food prices seem higher than other chains with food options though. Not sure why it would struggle more than any other the other Movie Taverns or Studio Movie Grill type places.

Still 5 Locations in Austin.

Well isn't that some sht?! I live 20 minutes from Woodbury MN and didn't even know they had an Alamo DraftHouse? Great time to find out about it.

Food was underwhelming at the New Braunfels location for it's entire existence. Became a Santikos after that. Last movie that I saw in there was El Camino and they passed out little baggies of blue crystal candy.

First quarter of 2024 was worst performing in box office history?

I assume they're only talking about those theaters

Then that wasn't a good way for them to state that issue.

That sucks.

Glad to hear other locations are staying open, but have to wonder what differentiates the Dallas-area locations from other locations?

I'd really miss my local Alamo, given how often I go there to see old movies on the big screen. Only the Cinemark seems to do that as well, just not typically the movies I want to see.

The one in Richardson was JUST renovated. The Variety story hints that they may be reopened, I guess by a different franchisee.

The two out here in Chandler and Gilbert, AZ changed names from Alamo Drafthouse to Majestic about 3 years ago.

Fenrir said:

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Cinco Ranch Aggie said:

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That sucks.

Glad to hear other locations are staying open, but have to wonder what differentiates the Dallas-area locations from other locations?

I'd really miss my local Alamo, given how often I go there to see old movies on the big screen. Only the Cinemark seems to do that as well, just not typically the movies I want to see.

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Look up Fathom Events. They put on old movies quite a bit and reach across multiple theater chains.

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Yeah, I've done those in the past. They do show some of my favorites, but nothing like what I've seen at the Alamo - old John Carpenter movies like Escape From New York, or old Godzilla movies, stuff like that.

I know some smaller or non-chain places and even city owned theaters do the retro movie thing as well.

Flashback Cinema is another one I've heard of that does retro movies at various chain theaters but I don't have one near me so never spent much time looking into it.

I definitely love getting to see older movies on big screens though.

First time I went to an Alamo Drafthouse I thought it was the greatest thing in the world. I think I saw A Beautiful Mind. Maybe I'm in the minority but I just don't enjoy going to the theater anymore. Too many entertainment options at home. More comfortable. The last few times I've been the theater was like a ghost town. I don't know how they're surviving.

uujm said:

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20 years ago I lived behind the Drafthouse in Austin up 183. Matinee ticket, pizza and a drink was $10. I might be making that up but it was cheap. Next door was a Vulcan Video.

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all that would be about $35 now

NoahAg said:

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First time I went to an Alamo Drafthouse I thought it was the greatest thing in the world. I think I saw A Beautiful Mind. Maybe I'm in the minority but I just don't enjoy going to the theater anymore. Too many entertainment options at home. More comfortable. The last few times I've been the theater was like a ghost town. I don't know how they're surviving.

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I'm in a similar boat. I was shocked when my Furiosa ticket was $19 the other day. The theater is in walking distance, too.

My threshold for seeing a movie in theater has gone up. For $19, I had better feel very confident I'll enjoy it. Otherwise I'll catch it later.

Aggie_Journalist said:

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NoahAg said:

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First time I went to an Alamo Drafthouse I thought it was the greatest thing in the world. I think I saw A Beautiful Mind. Maybe I'm in the minority but I just don't enjoy going to the theater anymore. Too many entertainment options at home. More comfortable. The last few times I've been the theater was like a ghost town. I don't know how they're surviving.

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I'm in a similar boat. I was shocked when my Furiosa ticket was $19 the other day. The theater is in walking distance, too.

My threshold for seeing a movie in theater has gone up. For $19, I had better feel very confident I'll enjoy it. Otherwise I'll catch it later.

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100% agree.

My wife asked if we wanted to take the kids to go see Despicable Me 4 on the 4th of July and I had to think twice about it….still said yes but other than this movie and Deadpool we're not going to anything else this year.

Up by me, they built a brand new Alamo Drafthouse which opened probably two months before COVID. They ended up closing it down permanently before everything really opened up. They must have taken a bath on that one.

Sounds like an opportunity for an enterprising, movie loving Ag in the DFW area!

AustinAg2K said:

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Aggie_Journalist said:

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NoahAg said:

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First time I went to an Alamo Drafthouse I thought it was the greatest thing in the world. I think I saw A Beautiful Mind. Maybe I'm in the minority but I just don't enjoy going to the theater anymore. Too many entertainment options at home. More comfortable. The last few times I've been the theater was like a ghost town. I don't know how they're surviving.

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I'm in a similar boat. I was shocked when my Furiosa ticket was $19 the other day. The theater is in walking distance, too.

My threshold for seeing a movie in theater has gone up. For $19, I had better feel very confident I'll enjoy it. Otherwise I'll catch it later.

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This is where I am at. The movie industry really needs to reign in prices. This likely means making less expensive movies, but I don't think that's a bad thing. Besides being about $20 a ticket, every theater is now a full dining experience, where popcorn costs $15, a drink is another $10, etc.

I'm definitely an old man telling at clouds, but I miss "regular theaters." I don't like the servers constantly in and out, and I just don't have interest in spending $30 on a burger I'm eating in the dark.

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This is one of the reasons I'm surprised Alamo went under. Ticket prices were $11.50 for matinees and $14.50 for evenings. A massive bowl of popcorn that they'd refill endlessly was $11.

Their prices were the best in Dallas and we'd drive a little farther to go see movies there. I'm super bummed out. I was pretty high on their rewards as well. Plus I loved their old movie showings and crowd stuff. Best place to be on opening nights for big movies

I've been going to Alamo since 1996. I loved the concept and the special cult/niche/funny movie events they'd have. From 1996 to 2006 I bet there weren't many who had been to an Alamo movie more than me.

I still enjoy seeing a movie in a theater too, I like the screen size, picture quality, sound quality, and experiencing it with others as an event. I'm too distracted in my house. But, if just my wife go there and partake of all they have to offer - movie, food, drinks - it's like $130. Take my family of 5 I can spend well over $200. I saw $1 movies as a kid and snuck food in. It's wildly expensive for two hours out, I think it's now preferable to go out to dinner to normal restaurant then movie at normal theater - if they still exist.

NoahAg said:

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First time I went to an Alamo Drafthouse I thought it was the greatest thing in the world. I think I saw A Beautiful Mind. Maybe I'm in the minority but I just don't enjoy going to the theater anymore. Too many entertainment options at home. More comfortable. The last few times I've been the theater was like a ghost town. I don't know how they're surviving.

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First time I went was Spike and Mike back in 1997.

There is an IMAX across the street from my office so I have been catching the big movies there. Otherwise, I have been buying Blu-Ray/4K and watching at home. I got rid of all of my streaming services and only have prime.

Jugstore Cowboy said:

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An L of an Ag said:

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Once other theaters starting having full bars attached, that was the end of Alamo's unique advantage.

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Probably a factor, but Alamo did other unique things like cult favorites and interactive fan stuff. Also sold collector merch.

Think it's just hard to be a niche provider amidst general declining interest in theater attendance. Also looks like they had a lot of locations in the Metroplex, probably more than the niche audience really needed.

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Done a few of these and they were awesome!

One of my fondest movie memory going experiences was going with my dad when Alamo was in Houston at the West Oaks Mall and going to see Mister Sinus Theater 3000 (not a misspelling typo IYKYK) make fun of The Terminator live. Absolutely loved it and it was hilarious!

Another was going with my wife to go see Tremors at the Katy location (only location I believe in the Houston area now). They handed out keychains that were made to look like Burt's license plate "UZI 4U" which i still have on my truck keys.....they gave a lighter for you to use everytime the actors used one in the movie.....and they gave you a pull pop firework to save for whenever you wanted to use it when guns went off.....and yes most of the theater saved them for when Burt and Reba when all Rambo on the one worm who broke into the wrong gall darn wreck room!

The best part was before the movie started their typical "dont talk" PSA was edited to encourage fan interaction and shouting out your favorite quotable lines from the movie.....which i so lovingly did when Kevin Bacon pronounced....

"You will have.....long blonde hair.....big green eyes.....WORLD class breasts.....ASS THAT WON'T QUIT.....AND LEGS.......THAT GO ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL THE WAY UP!!!!!"



good times.....

Alamo Draft House & Studio Movie grill used to be the only dine-in theaters in the Dallas area. Now there are a lot more and are much nicer. ADH no longer has a niche in the market.